Window latch



Oct. 1, 1929. H. HOLLAND 1,730,146

wnmow LATCH Filed May 9. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR} Oct. 1, 192.9.HOLLAND 1,730,146

WINDOW LATCH Filed May 9. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TOR.

ATTORN Patented Oct. 1, 1929 HENRY HOLLAND, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO wnvnowLATCH Application filed May 9 This invention, as indicated, relates to awindow latch. More particularly it comprises a latch wherein the weightof the window is supported upon a movable latch memher, one end of whichengages a rack or other suitable support upon the window frame andanother part of which has direct engagement with an inner wall of thestationary member of said window latch, It also includes a constructionwherein a double-ended latch member is employedflso that ,by the mereshifting of a coiled spring from one side of the device to the other theidentical latch structure may be used upon either the right or left handside of a window.

Window latches, as heretofore employed, particularly those used inrailway coaches and like structures, have in most'instances included amovable latch member mounted on a pivot pin. Such devices have beenfound after continued use to be subject ,to heavy wear and are oftenrendered inoperative either through tlrebreaking of'the pivot pin or theamming or misalignment of the latch member with" respect to itsassociated parts.

The principal object of the present inventionis to obviatethedifficulties' referred to and provide a latch which will be simple inconstruction and which will receive the weight of the window upon jpartsproviding a large bearing surface and which will be of durableconstruction little subject to breakage or wear, and which will not berendered inoperative, even if heavily used over'a very long periodduring which a considerable amount of wear may have taken place.Anotherobject of the invention is to eliminate the use of the pivot'pinfor the movable latch member, or to provide" a'bearing additional to thepivot pin which will form the main working bearing of thedevice, thepivot pin serving merely as a convenient means for centering theoperative parts when the latch is operated free of the weightof thewindow. Other and furtherobjects of the invention will fappearin thecourse'of'the following description. To the accomplishment of theforegoing and r'elated ends, said invention,

then, consists of themeans hereinafter fully 1925. Serial No. 29,099.

described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and the following description set forth in detailcertainmechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed meansconstituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which theprinciple of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings:

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing the corner of a window sash and framewith a window latch and rack applied thereto; Fig. 2' is an end view ofthe window latch with the rack and window frame shown insection; Fig. 3is a sectional view taken'falongthe line 3-8 shown in Fig. 1, looking inthe directionof. the arrows; Fig. 4 isa bottom plan view of thestationary part ofthe window latch; Fig. 5 isa perspective view of themovable part of the window latch 6 is a perspective view of a shortsection of the rack shown in Figs. 1 and 2; Fig.7 is an elevationshowing a movable form of window latch applied to a window sash andco-operating with an adjacent rack; Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of thelatch shown in Fig. 7 Fig. 9' is aside elevation of the latchshown inFig.8, as seen from the lefthand side;Fig. 10' is a sectional view 1taken along the line 10 10 shown in Fig. 8,

looking in the directio'n of the arrows; Figs. 11 and 12 are transversesectional views taken respectively lalong the lines 1,1"11 and12-12,'shown in Fig. 8, lookingin the direction of the arrows; and Figs.l3'and lt are respectively side and end elevationsshowing an invertedrack applied to the window sash and an invertedllatch of the type shownin Figs. 7 to 12 appliedto the window post or frame. l

As is clearly shown in the drawing mypreferred form of latch comprises astationary member '1, preferably formed of a metal casting having a mainbody section 2 in the form of a rectangular plate, formed at either endwith an extension 3 centrally apertured to re ceive a fastening element.The body portion of the device lies in a plane above that of'the endextensions inbrder to provide space beneath the same for a removablelatch member 4. Apiv'ot openings is provided centrally of the bodysection which is adapted to receive a stud 6 formed integrally upon theupper face of said movable member.

An extension member 7, preferably is in the form of a yoke and formedintegrally with said body member. The two arms of said yoke taper fromthe upper surface of the body member rearwardly to a point where theymerge and form a base 8 upon which a finger block 9 is provided. Saidfinger blocl: is preferably formed integrally with said rearwardextension and provides a surfaceon either side which may be engaged bythe fingers of the operator when shifting the latch member. Immediatelyin advance of the finger block a screw-hole 11 is provided, which, withthe openings in the lateral extensions of the body member, provides forthe secure fastening of the stationary latch member to the window frameor other point of support.

As is ciearly shown in Fig. 4 of the drawing, the body of the latchmember on its inner side is formed with a lug 15 having a cut-outportion of'semi-circular shape concentrically disposed with respect tothe pivot hole 5. On either side of said lug enlarged recesses 16, 17,are provided within which the ends of the T-head of the movable latchmember alternately move as the latch is operated. The T-head ispreferably formed integrally with the central arm 18 of the movablemember and on its under side carries a pair of conical extensions 19.The ends of the T-head are beveled from said conical extensions towardthe upper face of said T-head and theend faces of said T-head arebeveled on the side adjacent the piate of the stationary member. One ofthe beveled faces last referred to is intended to co-operate with aninclined rack tooth to press the window sash outwardly against thewindow frame in a manner presently to be described.

The main stem of the movable latch member adjacent the point where itjoins the T-head is provided concentrically with the pivot pinheretofore referred to, with an enlarged boss 21 merging with the T-headand having a rearward portion 22 of circular outline. This circular bossis of a size to engage within the circular boss formed on the inner faceof the body of the stationary member which is designed to take thethrust transmitted through the movable latch member when oncend of theT-head is in engagement with a rack tooth on the window frame. At theendof the main stem a fin or finger block 23 is provided whereby themovable latch membermay be operated in either direction.

In order to cause the latch to automatically engage a rack tooth whenthe window is raised it is necessary to place a coiled spring 24 beneathone end ofthe T-head. The coiled spring is preferably seated upon athimble 525, the thimble being of a'height adequate to prevent theretraction of the T-head from engagement with the latch a greaterdistance than is necessary to bring the outer face thereof into parallelalignment with the edge of the stationary member.

When the latch is to be used upon the left hand side of a window framethe coiled spring is placed in the recess which will be lower most whensaid stationary member is secured to the window frame. The open end ofthe coiled spring will readily seat over the adj acent conicalprojection formed on the under sideof the T-head and the thimble may bethen moved inwardly so as to be housed with in the adjacent recess inthe stationary latch member. When the device is to be changed to occupya position upon the right hand side of the window frame, the thimble andspring are removed and transferred to the opposite end of the T-head inthe manner already indicated.

VJ here it is desired to use separate right and left hand latches theconstruction may be modified so as to provide a latch operating armprojecting through the lower end of the body portion of the stationarymember and dispensing with the rearward extension clescribed inconnection with the preferred form of construction.

As is shown in Figs. 7 9, and 10, of the drawing, the stationary membercomprises a body portion 81 preferably of rectangular form, havingextensions 32, 33, at. either end provided with apertures to receive thefastening elements for-securingthe device to a window frame or otherpoint of support. The body portion is provided with an opening 34;,adjacent one of the extensions, through which the operating arm 35 ofthe movable latch member 36 is adapted to be received. T he inner faceof said body is cutaway at one side 37 to permit theprojectiontherethrough of the nose 38 of the'movable latch member so that it mayreadily engage a rack tooth 39 or similar stationary part upon the adjacent window frame. A thickened area 41 is formed integrally in theupper end of the body of the stationary member, as is shown in Fig. 8,and is provided with a cylindrical recess 42 of a size suitable toreceive a cylindrically formed member 43 on the upper end of the movablelatch. v I

The construction of the movable latch member has already been partlyindicated, said member comprising acylindrical upper portion merginginto a main body portion provided with a laterally projecting nosetapered adjacent one edge so as to co-operate with an inclined tooth ofa rack or similar stationary member. The lower end of the movablemember, as stated, is provided with an off-set arm terminating in afinger block cut away on its under side so as to permit of the readyinsertion of the movable member within the stationary member when theparts are to be rapidly assembled. A lug 44, proint vided centrally ofthe under side of the movable member, serves as a seat for a coiledspring45 which may be engaged thereover. The aperture at the base of thestationary member may be of a size to limit the movement of the fingerpiece to a point where the nose of the latch will be retracted even withthe forward edge of the stationary member. Adjacent the concentricrecess formed in the stationary member, an overhanging fin 46 may beprovided, which, when pressed downwardly against the upper end of themovable member, will serve to retain the same in engagement with thestationary member.

It is obvious that. the right and left hand latch members in themodified form of construction will have operative features identical inevery respect, except that one will be the complementary counterpart ofthe other.

In each form of construction the end of the movable latch, which engagesthe racktooth, or other stationary member, is beveled to cooperate witha similarly inclined face 47 on the rack tooth 48. Thus the window sashwill be forced against the adjacent window frame as the weight of theWindow is transferred from the operator to the interengaging latchparts.

In the form of construction shown in Figs. 13 and 14, the rack and latchmembers are of the type shown in Figs. 7 to 12, but are inverted andapplied respectively to the window sash and to the post or framestructure adjacent the window. In this form of construction the latchdoes not move and is always readily accessible.

Other modes of applying the principle of my invention may be employedinstead of the one explained, change being made as regards the mechanismherein disclosed, provided the means stated by any of the followingclaims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as myinvention 1. A window latch having a solid metal stationary memberprovided with a central recess and a socket presenting a cylindricalwall adjacent thereto, and a solid metal movable member having anextension to engage a projection on the window casing and having anenlarged boss adapted to engage within said socket and to provide apivot for said member and to transmit the thrust from said extensiondirectly to said wall of the socket in said stationary member.

2. A window latch having a solid metal stationary member provided with acentral recess and a socket presenting a cylindrical wall adjacentthereto, a solid metal movable member having an extension to engage aprojection on the window casing and having an enlarged boss adapted toengage within said socket and to provide a pivot for said member and totransmit the thrust from said extension directly to said Wall of thesocket in said stationary member, and a spring interposed between saidstationary and said movable members to force said extension outwardly.

3. A window latch having a solid metal stationary member provided with acentral recess and a socket presenting a cylindrical wall adjacentthereto, a solid metal movable member having an extension to engage aprojection on the window casing and having an enlarged boss adapted toengage within said socket and to provide a pivot for said member and totransmit the thrust from said extension directly to said wall of thesocket in said stationary member, a spring interposed between saidstationary and said movable members to force said extension outwardly,and means for retracting said extension against the pressure of saidspring.

4. An article of the character described, having in combination astationary member, a member movably mounted in said stationary member, acurved inner wall formed in said stationary member, a curved face uponsaid movable member cooperating with said curved inner wall of saidstationary member to take the thrust applied to said co-acting members,a coiled spring adapted to be selectively positioned behind one of theends of said movable member to project the same into engagement with arack, and means for operating said movable member.

Signed by me, this 7th day of May, 1925.

' HENRY HOLLAND.

